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Laconia classmates mourn friend, root for recovery of another girl injured in crash

LACONIA - As the condition of a 14-year-old girl hurt in an accident that killed a companion improves, the school the two girls attended is giving friends and classmates a chance to express their grief and remember their classmate.

The condition of the injured girl, Alyssa Miner, has been upgraded to fair at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon, where she was flown with critical injuries after both girls were hit by a car.

Another student, Lilyanna Johnson, 14, died at the hospital Friday night.

The girls were students walking home from Laconia Middle School when the accident happened about 2:30 p.m. Friday.

On Saturday, grief counselors and other members of the community were on hand to speak with students affected by the tragedy at the school during the morning and afternoon.

The Saturday session allowed counselors to be made available to students, who will be on vacation next week.

Students have also been invited to share their thoughts, remembrances and condolences through the school website.

"The LMS community is mourning the loss of Lilyanna Johnson and the injury of Alyssa Miner," said a notice. "Share your memories, thoughts and condolences."

Laconia Police Capt. Matt Canfield said the girls were hit when one car stopped at a crosswalk to allow the girls to cross the street and another car "suddenly veered" from behind the stopped car and hit one girl, a guardrail and the second girl.

One of the girls was thrown into the air and landed on the car's hood and windshield before falling to the pavement, Canfield said.

Police identified the driver of the car as Amy Lafond, 51, of 10 River St. Laconia,

Her car came to rest against the guardrail on the other side of the street, police said.

As of Saturday, no charges had been filed against Lafond in connection to the accident, Sgt. Dennis Ashley said.

Police are seeking information from anyone who may have seen the accident. Information can phoned to Laconia police at 524-5252, by calling the Laconia Crimeline at 527-1717 or at laconiapd.org